102 The Queens Courier • september 5, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com GLENDALE RALLIES AGAINST PROPOSED HOMELESS SHELTER BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] A senior center, a school, maybe even a park is fine, but residents in Glendale want to shut the door on a proposed homeless shelter. Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. led a protest on August 30 in front a defunct factory at 78-16 Cooper Avenue, which nonprofit Samaritan Village plans to transform into transitional Qside opens new HQ Qside Federal Credit Union, “Where money makes a better living,” has purchased a highly-visible property as the location for its new headquarters and main branch at 211-31 Jamaica Avenue in Queens Village. The credit union opened for business at the new location on August 19. Purchased in October 2011, the new building represents an exciting growth stage for Qside FCU. “Envisioned nearly 10 years ago, the purchase is a highly-anticipated, strategic milestone that will allow us to expand into new communities,” explained Mark Johnson, Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to serving as our headquarters and main branch for years to come, the new facility will also provide us with a base to build from for future expansion, while reducing costs in the long run.” “With numerous banks and check cashing centers located throughout Queens Village, Qside FCU will be a financial institution where your money makes a better living. We offer free checking accounts without minimum balance or direct deposit requirements,” said Monica Reid, Chief Operations Officer. “In fact, our free checking accounts actually pay interest and rewards points. Our credit card, loan and other deposit products also offer similar advantages.” Qside Federal Credit Union is a fullservice financial institution with over $50 million in assets and more than 9,000 members. Founded in 1940, Qside FCU began operations as the credit union for employees at Con Edison of New York. Today, the credit union continues to serve the employees of Con Edison of New York and has expanded to serve other businesses and the Queens community. For more information, please visit www.qsidefcu.org. THE COURIER/Photo by Mike DiBartolomeo housing if its proposal is approved by the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS). “We are against a 125-unit homeless shelter that the city is planning to ram down this community’s throat,” said Vallone, who is running to be the next borough president. “This is the wrong location and it’s the wrong size.” The community has been against this proposal since last year when rumors started. But recently Samaritan Village negotiated with Michael Wilner, the owner of the property, and submitted a proposal to the DHS. The nonprofit also sent a letter to Community Board 5 and local leaders to officially notify them of the plans. Wilner could not be reached for comment as of press time. And when The Courier contacted Samaritan Village, which operates multiple shelters around the city, the group said that it would not comment as the proposal is still being reviewed. The nonprofit said it plans to insert 125 families in the building and it will have security. Community members are worried that adding that number of people in the neighborhood would inundate already overcrowded schools. Residents also believe that Glendale isn’t a good fit for the shelter because transportation is limited since there are no subway lines nearby. The factory, which used to manufacture plane parts, is contaminated, according to multiple sources, and the Residents rallied against a proposed homeless shelter that could replace a defunct factory building would need millions in tax dollars to repair. So instead of a homeless shelter, residents said they would prefer to see a school, a park for local kids or a senior center for the many elderly in the area. “Right now I’m looking for someplace for my mother,” said Bob Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association. “I’m looking for THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre something that I’d feel is appropriate, but I have to look upstate. So we need something in our neighborhood.” They aren’t completely sure what the site should become, but there is a unified belief that a homeless shelter will damage the community. “It’s ridiculous,” said Augie Trinchese. “I’ve lived here for 41 years and I don’t want to see my property value go down.” on Cooper Avenue. SPOTLIGHT ON JUSTICE: SURROGATE JUDGE PETER KELLY QUEENS SURROGATE’S COURT BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] Like most children, at a young age being a lawyer was not at the top of Surrogate Judge Peter Kelly’s list. Yet, after growing up and being introduced to the practice, he knew it would be the path for him. “When I was in high school, when I could actually appreciate what different career paths would be like, was the time I really started to think of potentially becoming a lawyer,” said Kelly. While in high school, a neighbor got Kelly’s mom involved in neighborhood politics in Astoria. Kelly then joined his mom and met many lawyers that intrigued him. After graduating Iona College in 1980, he went on to St. John’s Law School. In his last year of law school, he interned in judicial law at a surrogate’s court. But he still had more of an interest in labor law. While waiting to hear back for an application he put in to the National Labor Relations Board, Kelly was offered a job to work as a law secretary and took the opportunity. He took part in both criminal and civil law, which helped him determine his interest in the civil side of the court. He was then accepted to work with Judge Robert Nahman in the Supreme Court. As Nahman moved onto Surrogate’s Court, Kelly continued working with him until 1998. He then had the opportunity to apply to a law firm, but Nahman suggested he try to be elected as a judge. “It seemed very appealing to me. It allowed me the opportunity to spend time with my children,” he said. “I was doing something that was intellectually stimulating and being able to have a family life as well. From 1999 to 2002, Kelly served as a Civil Court Judge and was then elected to the Supreme Court in 2003. In 2011, Kelly was elected for a 14-year term as the only surrogate judge in the Queens Surrogate’s Court. As a surrogate judge, Kelly has jurisdiction over all guardianship cases, adoptions, any disputed or undisputed estate work, any cases dealing with wills, and also handles guardianship cases for mentally challenged and disabled adults who turn 18 years old. “I just like the practice,” said Kelly. “I like what I have to deal with every day. You get exposed to disputes in all different areas. Not every case is the same, it’s always different facts and parts of the law.” CEO Mark Johnson (center) cuts the ribbon on the new facility.
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